Schools Cup Final: Belfast rivals set for Kingspan showdown

Campbell College and Royal Belfast Academical Institution will do battle this afternoon for the showpiece Danske Bank Schools Cup Rugby Final at the Kingspan.

For Campbell, it will be a chance to banish the memories of 2022's last-gasp 20-17 defeat to Methody.

In the case of the RBAI, it's the first time they've reached the decider since 2017, when they completed three-in-a-row by beating Methody 12-8.

Campbell, who last lifted the famous trophy in 2018 by beating Royal School Armagh 19-13, will hope to add to their 24 titles, with RBAI taking the Schools Cup home on 32 previous occasions.

It's set to be a tight affair, with very little separating the two Belfast powerhouses.

Following an impressive 40-0 swamping of Dromore High Schools in the last eight, RBAI had to produce a stirring second half comeback in the semi0fnial eventually running our 31-14 victors against Wallace High School.

For Campbell, they've grown in stature as the competition has progressed.

A narrow win against Ballymena Academy in the last 16 was followed up by a 36-20 success versus Sullivan Upper.

Then came the meeting of last year's finalists as they took on champions Methody at the Kingspan.

Methody were dismissed in fine style courtesy of a 31-10 win as Campbell booked their place in the decider and a showdown between two of the three most successful schools in the competition later today.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Campbell College

Round of 16

Ballymena Academy 10 Campbell College 13

Quarter-Final

Sullivan Upper 20 Campbell College 36

Semi-Final

Methodist College 10 Campbell College 31

Royal Belfast Academical Institution

Round of 16

Enniskillen Royal GS 13 RBAI 29

Quarter-Final

RBAI 40 Dromore HS 0

Semi-Final

RBAI 31 Wallace HS 14